Everyones Opinion on O-1

rrg991981

rrg991981

Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Messages
778
I was just wondering about O1 steel and I wanted to see what everyone thinks, it seems to be a pretty highly regarded steel
 
Takes a great edge and holds it for awhile. As people will tell you it's not that stainresistant, but if you clean it after you use it there should be no problems.
 
I think it is the best steel for for a hunting/camp knife going. Staining is cool too as it retards rust on the blade and helps protect it. My original Master Hunter is 01, so I have been told and just a great blade. I belive it was the second year they came out in mid 80's when I bought it and still takes a ferocious edge and holds very very well. keepem sharp
 
Randall Made Knives has used it for 68 years. Can't be too bad. I like it. :thumbup:
 
They haven't. Knives are still offered with O-1 or stainless blades depending on the customer's choice.
 
Clean it and dry befor you put it away. You can use RenWax if you ned more protection.
 
It's one of those steels you won't read much about in the magazines because it has so little sex appeal---I mean, it's been around for SO long. Now, the fact that it does its job superbly and is one of the best balanced blade steels out there is beside the point... ;)

Like these guys have said---keep it clean in between uses, don't put it away wet, and don't worry about the blade darkening, because it will, as this actually protects it. Long as you're not seeing actual red rust, you're fine.
 
From a knifemaker's view, it grinds easily, simple to heat treat, takes a nice finish and is tough as nails. I like it alot. :)
Scott
 
Go to 'makers' section and read "triple quench 0-1". Tons of info on 0-1 if you want some VERY GOOD opinions of 0-1 and how to treat it. I was well educated by the responses I recieved to my questions. Thanks to them all!
 
Razorback - Knives said:
From a knifemaker's view, it grinds easily, simple to heat treat, takes a nice finish and is tough as nails. I like it alot. :)
Scott
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From the knife user's perspective, it takes a nice finish and is tough as nails. Holds a good edge, and is easy to sharpen. I like it! :)
 
sodak said:
From the knife user's perspective, it takes a nice finish and is tough as nails. Holds a good edge, and is easy to sharpen. I like it! :)
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I have a Randall #12. Beautifully made. Like so many other Randall owners, it has become so valuable, I haven't used it. My question: Would the hollow ground edge on so many Randalls hold up under hard, survival-type work? As solid and well made as they are, the edge still looks a little too thin and fragile. How would it hold up compared to a quality manufactured blade, like CS or Busse, etc.?

Thanks for any input.
Drocko
 
Randall and Busse are two top manufacturers. Cold Steel is a design and marketing operation. Their knife quality and reliability are variable, depending on who makes the particular model you're interested in and of what materials.

The advantage of using good materials is that the edge doesn't need to be prybar thick to hold up under heavy use. What constitutes "hard, survival-type work" will vary from person to person, and may be more than a knife optimized for cutting should be asked to do.
 
Hey Guys...

I wasn't a big fan of it,, but I'm slowly warming up to it..

My big thing with it is rust.. I generally prefer stainless but 01 does have it's ++++'s...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Randall and Busse are two top manufacturers. Cold Steel is a design and marketing operation. Their knife quality and reliability are variable, depending on who makes the particular model you're interested in and of what materials.

The advantage of using good materials is that the edge doesn't need to be prybar thick to hold up under heavy use. What constitutes "hard, survival-type work" will vary from person to person, and may be more than a knife optimized for cutting should be asked to do.
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Thanks for the response. I'm not questioning the quality of O-1, or Randalls in general. My question is, can a Randall #12 be used for heavy chopping, etc. like a Busse, large CS, RAT, etc. without serious damage to the edge. I'm not aware of any other such heavy blade (1/4") with a hollow ground edge. I wouldn't hesitate to use the #12 if needed; just seems that I should also expect a chipped blade - seems like not enough steel on the cutting edge. Anyone tried it? or is every Randall a show queen? I know that's not what Bo intended.
 
I doubt ANY Randall is a show queen, unless that's how you want to treat them. A hollow grind is not necessarily a fragile edge, either, although there are limits to what each blade of any make or materials can take.

Camp knife, hunter, general woodsrambling? Take the Randall out there and have fun. You won't wreck the knife, but you will find yourself sharpening it from time to time, and that will cure any little chips you find, too.
 
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